responsibility of the detainees in the area and would be accountable to the charge. This person would be available to: officer in • • • • • • • hear and possibly remedy complaints, see that the Centres are kept in good and running order, see to the proper and hygenic distribution of food, organise the cleanliness of the place, plan the interviews regarding refugee status, be ready to listen when inmates need help and and refer when necessary. initiate disciplinary charges whenever disciplinary action appears to be appropriate, • See about the need for a special diet in certain circumstances. The Board is also of the opinion that more direct contact between the Management, DS personnel and the detainees would make life for the immigrants more bearable during this difficult period of their life. There has been a marked improvement in the administration of the Centres and the fewer numbers of detainees has made it easier to manage However one has to be alert as to when the situation changes and a greater influx of undocumented migrants reach our shores. The Board encounters members of staff the majority of whom are caring and who treat the detainees with care and respect. However the Board is of the opinion that continuous training of personnel needs to be more comprehensive. The Board is aware that some training has started with staff .Training (initial and ongoing) of detention staff should be more structured and on a regular basis. This training needs to include basic communication skills, security and health issues and training in disciplinary methods. Members of the Detention Service need to be given the support necessary to fulfil their duties in terms of human rights legislation and internationally recognised standards. 9.2.1 During the training a process of de-selection needs to be in place so that those who do not have the right attitude towards detainees, and who are not capable of carrying out the very delicate and onerous task entrusted to them are not recruited to work within the DS. 9.2.2 The Board would like to see more female detention staff employed to work with women detainees. It is unacceptable and also unethical to have male staff conducting body searches on female detainees or to have male staff during medical examinations of females. 10 I ,,'